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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Draft Preview: The Youngin's Part 2

Everyone loves youth. Tony La Russa may disagree with that statement, but he's part of a small minority. The younger the player, the more time he has to grow and to develop. It means a higher ceiling, well at least a higher perceived ceiling. Ultimately, a player is going to be drafted based on several factors other than the date on his birth certificate. Still, when it comes to the draft, youth is never going to be looked at as a fault. In the 2012 draft class, seven prep players stand out as being both a top draft prospect and extremely young. That list consists of Carlos Correa, C.J Hinojosa, Carson Kelly, Rhett Wiseman, Cody Poteet, Daniel Starwalt, and Anthony Alford. Carlos Correa was part of my first mock draft and was also profiled earlier here. C.J. Hinojosa and Carson Kelly (along with Correa) will be included in my mock draft 2.0. That leaves Wiseman, Poteet, Starwalt, and Alford to profile. Up first was the pair of Starwalt and Alford. Next is the pair of Poteet and Wiseman.

Cody Poteet - Poteet, who won't turn 18 until about a month after the draft, is smaller than the prototypical pitcher. He only stands 6'1 and weights 180 lbs, but he could certainly still grow. That said, he may not even need to. Poteet, who pitches for Christian High School in El Cajon, California - Daniel Starwalt pitches for Granite Hills High School which is also in El Cajon - can already touch 94 mph with his fastball and it regularly sits in the low 90's. Poteet compliments his fastball with a good curveball and a changeup and slider that will need work. Poteet's delivery has some effort in it, but he's athletic enough to make it work, making him an intriguing prospect come June.

Rhett Wiseman - Wiseman and Poteet have in common more than just their youth. Both are 6'1, although Wiseman weighs a more filled out 195lbs and he's also an outfielder instead of a pitcher. In the outfield, Wiseman flashes four tools. He's got a below-average arm, but on the flipside Wiseman has above-average speed and power. That speed gives him solid range and he projects as an above-average defensive centerfielder despite the lack of arm strength. Wiseman is raw at the plate and has some mechanical issues, but he's got good bat speed and could develop a solid hit tool with development and hard work. The second part shouldn't be a problem as Wiseman is lauded for his leadership, character, and work ethic. Considering he won't even be 18 at the time of the draft, like the three players profiled previously to him, Wiseman has a solid chance to be drafted early in this coming June's draft.